The Amstrad CPC character set (alternatively known as the BASIC graphics character set)[1] is the character set used in the Amstrad CPC series of 8-bit personal computers when running BASIC (the default mode, until it boots into CP/M). This character set existed in the built-in "lower" ROM chip. It is based on ASCII-1967, with the exception of character 0x5E which is the up arrow instead of the circumflex, as it is in ASCII-1963, a feature shared with other character sets of the time.[2][3] Apart from the standard printable ASCII range (0x20-0x7e), it is completely different from the Amstrad CP/M Plus character set. The BASIC character set had symbols of particular use in games and home computing, while the CP/M Plus character reflected the International and Business flavor of the CP/M Plus environment.[4] This character set is represented in Unicode (excluding 0xEF, 0xFC, and 0xFD)[5] as of the March 2020 release of Unicode 13.0, which added symbols for legacy computing. The three missing characters have however been accepted for inclusion in Unicode 16.0 in the symbols for legacy computing supplement.[6]
Character set
The character bitmaps of the Amstrad CPC character set.
^The control characters normally do not produce a character on screen, but are interpreted as control codes. When using the character 1 (SOH) as a prefix, or with the graphics text, or entered from the keyboard, they are displayed with the representation on the bottom of the cell.[10]
Control characters
Each of the characters in the C0 character range (0x00-0x1F) had a special function.[11]
Clear from left edge of window to, and including, the current character position.[a]
12
18
DC2
Clear from, and including, the current character position to the right edge of window.[a]
13
19
DC3
Clear from start of window to, and including, the current character position.[a]
14
20
DC4
Clear from, and including, the current character position to the end of window.[a]
15
21
NAK
Turn off text screen. The screen will not react to anything sent to it until after an ACK is sent.
16
22
SYN
0-1
Set transparency (0 disables, 1 enables)
17
23
ETB
0-3
Set graphics ink mode. 0 normal (overwrite), 1 XOR, 2 AND, 3 OR
18
24
CAN
Exchange Pen and Paper Inks, effectively applying the reverse video effect.
19
25
EM
0-255 (9 times)
SYMBOL
Set the matrix for user definable character. The first parameter specifies which character's matrix to set. The next eight specify the matrix.
1A
26
SUB
1-80, 1-80, 1-25, 1-25
WINDOW
Set Window. The parameters specify left, right, top and bottom edges of the window.
1B
27
ESC
No effect. Ignored.
1C
28
FS
0-15, 0-31, 0-31
INK
Set Ink to a pair of colors. The first parameter specifies the Ink, the next two the required colors. [b]
1D
29
GS
0-31, 0-31
BORDER
Set Border to a pair of colors. Equivalent to a BORDER command. The two parameters specify the two colors.[b]
1E
30
RS
Move cursor to top left hand corner of window.
1F
31
US
1-80, 1-25
LOCATE
Move cursor to the given position in the current window. The first parameter gives the column to move to, the second gives the line.
^ abcdefghijThe codes marked force the cursor to a legal position in the current window before they are obeyed - but may leave the cursor in an illegal position
^ abParameter values 27 to 31 are un-defined colors.
